New London, Connecticut, became an important port in colonial America because
of its protected harbor at the mouth of the Thames River. A 64-foot stone lighthouse
was erected at the west side of the harbor entrance in 1761, paid for by money
raised by selling lottery tickets. It was the fourth lighthouse in North America
and the first on Long Island Sound.
The lighthouse made it through the American Revolution unscathed. But it developed
a large crack by 1799, and there were numerous complaints that the light was difficult
to distinguish from neighboring homes.
The present 89-foot stone lighthouse was completed in 1801 by Abisha Woodward
of New London. The handsome octagonal brownstone tower is the oldest existing
lighthouse in Connecticut.
The light was extinguished during the War of 1812 at the request of Commodore
Decatur. With the militia nearby, the British decided not to raid the lighthouse,
but they did raid Little Gull Island Light farther out in Fisher’s Island Sound.
A new keeper's dwelling was built in 1818 for $1,200. The present keeper's house
was built in 1863 and was enlarged in 1900.
In 1904 a new fog siren provoked complaints from the local summer residents.
One man exclaimed, "How about that horrible shrieking and groaning siren that
has been stuck up on top of the lighthouse here? Unless something is done pretty
soon, this will be the best field of practice for a specialist of nervous disease
that I know of."
The light was converted to automatic acetylene gas operation in 1912. The keepers
were removed and the property, except for the lighthouse tower, was sold at auction.
The keeper’s house remains privately owned, but the lighthouse will soon be turned
over to a suitable new steward under the National Historic Lighthouse Preservation
Act of 2000. Excellent views are available from many of the ferries leaving New
London.
For more HISTORY of this lighthouse, click here
Copyright 2005 by Jeremy D'Entremont,New England Lighthouses
Photos are the property of the author and may not be used without permission.
Photos above from Jeremy D'Entremont.
